Some rookie quarterbacks need time to grow and get accustomed to the speed of the NFL. Some come in right away and make waves — for better or for worse.
There have been a lot of quarterbacks throughout NFL history who have played well, won games, and elevated their teams. Recently, fans have been spoiled seeing Jayden Daniels and C.J. Stroud come in and light it up on the field, both completely turning around their respective teams. But where do they rank all-time?
Here are the 10 best rookie seasons by a quarterback in NFL history:
10. Ben Roethlisberger, 2004
Roethlisberger was drafted 11th overall in 2004 and began the season behind starter Tommy Maddox. After three games, Maddox got hurt, clearing the way for Big Ben to take over. He started 13 games and — to just get this out of the way now — yes, he won all 13, which then ranked first all-time in wins by a rookie QB since 1970.
He may have won all of his starts, but Roethlisberger didn’t quite torch defenses, although he didn’t necessarily have to. The 2004 Rookie of the Year completed just over 66 percent of his passes for 2,621 yards, 17 touchdowns, and 11 interceptions. The Steelers’ season ultimately came to an end in the AFC Championship against the eventual back-to-back champion New England Patriots.
9. Russell Wilson, 2012
Wilson seemed to come out of nowhere during his rookie season. He was drafted in the third round right after the Seahawks signed Matt Flynn to a pretty big deal, making him the expected backup. Then, however, training camp and the preseason came along, and Wilson blew everyone away, securing the starting job immediately.
The Seahawks exceeded expectations that year, winning 11 games and rallying to secure a wildly exciting Wild Card victory over the then-Washington Redskins and fellow rookie Robert Griffin III — who you’ll see further down the list.
.@DangeRussWilson showed flashes of greatness as a rookie. (2012)
Since being named a starter in August 2012, Wilson has 7 Pro Bowl selections, won a Super Bowl, and led the @Seahawks to the playoffs in 7 of 8 seasons with ZERO games missed. pic.twitter.com/fLpRretKlH
— NFL Legacy (@NFLLegacy) August 31, 2020
Wilson dazzled on the field, showing his elusiveness and escapability. He completed 64 percent of his passes for 3,118 yards, 26 touchdowns, and just 10 interceptions. He added 489 yards and four scores on the ground. It may seem a little unfair to have him so far down the list compared to others, but there were two rookie quarterbacks in his own class who deserve recognition, too. After all, this whole list is a comparison.
8. Dak Prescott, 2016
Prescott fell pretty far in the 2016 NFL Draft, being selected by the Cowboys in the fourth round. He, like Roethlisberger, was not expected to start, but he got the chance after Tony Romo was sidelined with an injury. The rest was history as he went on to win 13 games — tying Roethlisberger for the most wins by a rookie QB in history — and earning the top seed in the NFC.
The new face of America’s Team wasn’t flashy, but he had an extremely efficient year, completing just under 68 percent of his passes for 23 touchdowns and just four interceptions. He also had six touchdowns on the ground. Prescott was named Offensive Rookie of the Year, leading the Cowboys to the Divisional Round.
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7. Andrew Luck, 2012
Luck, who came out the same year as the aforementioned Wilson, was one of the most — if not the most — decorated and highly touted quarterback prospects ever. He took the helm for a 2-14 Colts team the year before and brought them to an 11-5 record in his first season.
Luck threw the ball all over the yard, just not at an effective rate. He completed only 54 percent of his passes but set an NFL rookie record with 4,374 yards, which still stands today. He converted for 23 passing touchdowns and five rushing, but he also threw 18 interceptions. His numbers and win totals were good and had him finish above Wilson in the Rookie of the Year voting, but the turnovers prevented him from winning the award, finishing second in a stacked rookie QB class.
6. Cam Newton, 2011
Newton took the NFL by storm. He was big, physical, fast, and had a strong arm, albeit not the most accurate. Regardless, he absolutely torched defenses. Newton completed just 60 percent of his passes but threw for 4,051 yards and 21 touchdowns, along with 17 interceptions. His true damage came on the ground, though, with him running for 706 yards and 14 more touchdowns. He also became the first rookie QB in history to throw for over 400 yards in his debut game.
Never forget when rookie Cam Newton threw for over 400 yards in his first ever regular season game 👀 pic.twitter.com/N6Y8Xempsp
— NFL Rookie Watch (@NFLRookieWatxh) August 15, 2022
Newon was an absolute force and won Offensive Rookie of the Year by unanimous vote, but it didn’t amass to as much winning. The Panthers won just six games in 2011.
5. Justin Herbert, 2020
Herbert was the third QB taken in the 2020 NFL Draft behind Joe Burrow and Tua Tagovailoa. The Chargers’ signal-caller didn’t lead the team to a successful season in terms of wins, going just 6-9 under center, but he absolutely torched defenses.
The Oregon product completed just under 67 percent of his passes for 4,336 yards — only 38 shy of Andrew Luck’s record — 31 touchdowns, and just 10 interceptions. He also added five scores on the ground. His efforts helped give the Chargers a top-10 offense, but it didn’t amount to overall team success.
4. Robert Griffin III, 2012
Oh, RGIII. What could’ve been.
Griffin had one of the most exciting rookie seasons of all time at the quarterback position. The second overall pick in 2012 — selected right after Andrew Luck — did what Jayden Daniels has done this season, and he completely changed the outlook for Washington’s football team.
The dual-threat under center led Washington to a 9-6 record in games he started, earning an NFC East title. He threw for 3,200 yards, 20 touchdowns, and just five interceptions. His interception rate of just 1.3 percent was the best in the league. Furthermore, he ran for a then-rookie record of 815 yards and seven touchdowns.
THROWBACK: Robert Griffin‘s insane 76-yard rushing touchdown.
RG3’s rookie season was one of the most special ever.
What could have been… if he didn’t get injured.
pic.twitter.com/6Pe22xu3ax— MLFootball (@_MLFootball) December 13, 2024
Griffin’s — and Washington’s — season came to an end in the Wild Card round when he tore his ACL, the first of many injuries that ultimately derailed his career.
3. Dan Marino, 1983
We’re going old school with this one.
Marino’s career will forever be plagued by the fact that he never won a Super Bowl. That doesn’t mean he wasn’t great, though, and during his rookie season in 1983, the Dolphins just kept winning.
In a ridiculously stacked QB class that year, Marino was the sixth signal caller taken. He didn’t see the field as a starter until Week 6, but once he did, the Dolphins changed. The team went 7-2 in nine games with him under center, quickly becoming one of the most explosive offensive units in the entire league. In those nine games, Marino threw for 2,210 yards, 20 touchdowns, and six interceptions.
His winning ways earned him a top-three finish in voting for Offensive Rookie of the Year, Offensive Player of the Year, and MVP. The Dolphins earned the second seed in the AFC before being sent home in the Divisional Round.
2. C.J. Stroud, 2023
Let’s put this into perspective: from 2020 to 2023, the Texans had just 11 wins total. In Stroud’s rookie season, the Texans went 10-7, including 9-6 with Stroud under center.
Stroud put together a ridiculous stat line across those 15 games, throwing for 4,108 yards, 23 touchdowns, and just five interceptions. His ball protection was unprecedented, leading the league with a 1.0 percent interception rate. He also set a rookie record with 470 passing yards against the Buccaneers, adding five touchdowns.
CJ Stroud vs. Bucs 😤
30/42
470 YDS (NFL single-game rookie passing YDS record)
5 TDSimply brilliant. 🔥 pic.twitter.com/zVvowPWtzv
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) November 5, 2023
Stroud and the Texans made it to the Divisional Round before losing to the top-seeded Ravens. There’s a reason many considered Stroud’s rookie campaign the greatest in history — that is, until Daniels came along.
1. Jayden Daniels, 2024
How could Jayden Daniels not be No. 1 on this list?
Daniels was the second overall pick in the 2024 draft and has drastically outperformed not only who was picked ahead of him — Caleb Williams — but all expectations, too. The rookie sensation led the Commanders to a 12-5 regular season record, and not just as a game manager, but as the deciding factor.
The young star completed nearly 70 percent of his passes for 3,568 yards, 25 touchdowns, and just nine interceptions. He added 891 yards on the ground — breaking Griffin’s record — with six more rushing touchdowns. He’s also led four game-winning drives, including one to give the Commanders their first 12-win season since 1991 and a trip to the playoffs.
Daniels was extremely protective with the ball, having an interception rate of just 1.9 percent. To add to that, he didn’t even play particularly “careful,” constantly pushing the ball downfield and making highlight play after highlight play.
JAYDEN DANIELS STUMBLES AND THROWS A DART TO TERRY MCLAURIN FOR THE TD 😱
WHAT A PLAY 🔥
(via @NFL)
pic.twitter.com/Ae6TJXZtNg— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) December 15, 2024
Daniels had a great regular season but has only elevated his game in the playoffs. The Commanders took down the Buccaneers in the Wild Card Round and shocked the football world by scoring 45 points on the road and taking down the top-seeded Lions. Now, he’s one win away from becoming the first rookie QB in NFL history to start in a Super Bowl.
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